Our mini Summer Vacation to Nauvoo

 So for our little vacation we went to Nauvoo and got a hotel (this is big) We went to a Voice Mail concert which the girls loved! Then we did some swimming...the real reason for getting a hotel.

Dan and I each got to go to the temple so wonderful to be in the house of the Lord. While Dan was doing his session the girls and I went to a play. I love watching the singing missionaries! We had to hit the fudge factory and get a treat...then we went to sunset on the Mississippi as a family that evening and drove home so fun. It ended up being a rainy day so we didn't get to go geode hunting but maybe next time!

Our trip to the fossil gorge...

So this year we caught some tadpoles and we lucked out and got a couple really close to becoming little frogs and while we had them they turned...yippee how exciting the girls loved it!

Fathers Day 2011

 This year we gave Dan a Hero package...Because he is our Hero!

He does so much for us we don't know where we'd be with out him.

 Daddy with his girls...We are so blessed to have his goodness, hard work, steadfastness, love, good ideas, energy and testimony in our lives.

 

We Love you Daddy!

Good Friends

 We got to be with the amazing Norby's one last time before they left Iowa City.

How blessed I feel to have had such an amazing friend the Lord is so kind and merciful when He sends such good people to be in your life!

Oral Surgery Graduation ....not ours yet!

Just had to post this to remind me what an amazingly handsom husband I have!!!

 We only have one year left of residency...where has the time gone?

Rhubarb Pie

So our neighbor gave us some rhubarb and for something new and exciting we made a rhubarb pie but I wanted the girls to try it plain first so we tried plain...yuck..then with salt...still pretty yuck then dipped in sugar...much better but not really...except Vivian she ate at least one whole stick of rhubarb the funny thing is after the other girls were like yuck she plugged her nose to eat the rest of her share. So funny that she associated what the girls normally do when they don't like something to her sampling of rhubarb! The pie was actually pretty good- thanks for the recipe Melanie.

monkey hear monkey do!

 So...this morning Vivian needed me to do something for her and I said OK just a minute I need to put my lotion in my hair and I'll be right there... when I finished and went to her room this is what I found. I had to laugh when she said " lotion my hair"

JaNae the skirt and shirt are so cute you are so talented!

Thanks!

Abbi got this scar later that day in a bush at Daines Dairy but instead of being sad about it she was so excited and happy to have a Harry Potter scar on her hand!

Elli's 6

 So our Sweet Elli is now 6...it is  hard to believe. she is such a wonderful blessing to out home she requested pizza and a chocolate cake with princesses on top...so here is what we came up with!

 We made a triple chocolate cake in 4layers with a chocolate ganache between each layer and then covering the entire cake. We topped it with some chocolate dipped strawberries and real whip cream...After we ate and celebrated we took cake to all our neighbors and still had enough for seconds!  It's a good thing we had left overs because serving and sharing are some of Elli's favorite things to do!

End of year Graduations!

 Vivian couldn't help but join in the fun...these hats are lots of fun to put on!

 Abbi and her teacher (1st and 2nd grade) Mrs. Smock 

We have loved her she is a wonderful teacher!

 Elli's kindergarten graduation was so fun...she has loved kindergarten so much especially her amazing teacher Ms. Kasparack!